From a natural healing point of view, the reasons for heartburn and indigestion are simple: if food can’t pass through the GI tract at a high enough rate, then the food may go the other way.

This idea isn’t so far-fetched and actually is more or less what your OB-GYN will tell you if you complain of heartburn and indigestion during pregnancy.

Medical Doctors Explain Heartburn and Indigestion

After you swallow a mouthful of food, it travels down the esophagus. Before it gets to the stomach, it needs the right of passage. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) controls that rite of passage. It is the gate between the esophagus and the stomach and plays an important role because if the gate is not working, stomach acids will return to the esophagus. And that means you’ll have pain and burning in the area of your chest.

When you are pregnant, the LES relaxes a little and compromises the gate functions. This is why it’s possible to experience heartburn when you lie down. The pain may also occur after you eat a large meal.

However, you don’t have to experience heartburn if your diet is higher in fiber. Fiber will push the food down to the small intestine so that it can’t back up from the stomach.

Another cause of heartburn is that the developing baby inside you pushes against your stomach. And since we know that babies in the womb hear and respond to a mother’s voice, thoughts, and feelings, you may want to have a ‘conversation’ with your baby about not doing that type of action again!

Symptoms of Indigestion and Heartburn

You’ll know if you have indigestion or heartburn if you have any of these symptoms:

• feeling bloated or full and heavy
• burping and/or belching
• food coming up after eating a meal
• a burning sensation or chest pain

These symptoms usually start after eating food or drinking beverages. However, it’s not uncommon for you to feel them later. Their timing during pregnancy is usually at the three month mark and beyond.

Suggestions to Reduce Indigestion and Heartburn

Besides eating a higher fiber diet, there are other recommendations that may ease your heartburn and indigestion.

• Reduce your intake of rich (fatty) or spicy foods.
• Limit your caffeine-containing foods.
• Cut out your alcohol consumption.
• Have a cup of ginger tea in the morning or when symptoms arise.
• If you haven’t given up smoking yet, it’s time!
• Stop all food intake after 6 pm so that all food is digested and out of the stomach.
• Elevate your head and shoulders so stomach acid can’t come up, or sleep on your left side.
• Check the list of side effects for any medications you are currently taking. Look for indigestion or any digestive disturbances for them. Then, ask your doctor for substitutes that don’t have these side effects.

With small changes in your daily routine, you can beat heartburn and indigestion. If you make the changes and the heartburn continues, make sure you schedule a doctor’s visit for further investigation.